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Rick Perry, the longest-serving governor in Texas history and a dominant political figure in the state for more than two decades, surprised the state’s political establishment Monday, announcing he won’t seek re-election next year.

But the biggest surprise is he did not say whether he would run for president again in 2016, as had been widely anticipated.

Perry left the possibility open, and said he will make such a decision in the next 18 months.

“I make this announcement, with the deepest sense of humility and appreciation for the trust the people of this state has given me” the governor told a large number of longtime supporters gathered at a Caterpillar dealership in San Antonio.

Perry, who has been in public office since early 1985 when he began serving the first of three two-year terms in the Texas House, has been governor since December 2000. As lieutenant governor, he succeeded then-Gov. George W. Bush when the latter resigned to become president.

If he finishes his current four-year term in early 2015, Perry would have served 14 years as governor.

“I remain excited about the future and the challenges ahead, but the time has come to pass on the mantle of leadership,” Perry said. “Any future considerations I will announce in due time — and I will arrive at that decision appropriately — but my focus will remain on Texas.”

Perry’s decision opens various political possibilities for well-known or well-funded Texas Republicans, particularly for Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, long considered his heir apparent.

Abbott, who as of Dec. 31 had a war chest of $18 million, the largest amount of any potential candidate for statewide office, is expected to announce his candidacy for the Republican nomination for governor in the foreseeable future.

On Monday, he had nothing but praise for Perry.

“As governor, Rick Perry has fought for lower taxes, less regulation, and more job creation — all of which have helped Texas claim the best business climate in the nation,” Abbott said in a statement.

If Abbott runs for governor, at least two state legislators and a railroad commissioner are expected to run for his office.

This in turn means other Texans would run for those vacated posts.

In addition, former Texas GOP chairman Tom Pauken, announced this year he is running for governor.

Perry’s announcement also comes at a time when three well-known state officials — Houston’s state Sen. Dan Patrick, Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson and Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples — intend to challenge Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst in next year’s Republican primary.

Moreover, State Comptroller Susan Combs recently said she won’t seek re-election next year, and there are already several other Republicans who have announced their intention to seek her office.

This means that for the first time in more than a decade, there will be several contested statewide races in next year’s Republican primary.

Rep. John Smithee, who began his legislative career the same year Perry did and has been a friend of the governor since, said Perry’s decision creates “a game of musical chairs” in the state government.

“It will create a lot of changes,” Smithee, R-Amarillo, said. “Almost every office holder will be running for something else.”

Ray Sullivan, who has advised the governor on and off since 1998 when he ran successfully for lieutenant governor, said he thinks Perry will run for president again in 2016.

“I think he has some luxury of time this time,” Sullivan said in reference to the 2012 campaign when Perry declared his candidacy in August 2011, which some political observers thought was late, despite his brief frontrunner status.

“The lessons he took from the last campaign is if you are going to get in, get in early, build the team early and don’t wait until the last minute,” Sullivan said.

University of North Texas professor Jim Mueller said despite Perry’s “oops” moment and subsequent poor showing in the 2012 presidential race, he should be considered a strong candidate in 2016.

“Americans are pretty forgiving,” Mueller said. “And what he was advocating back then seems kind of forward-thinking now in light of the scandals at the IRS and other agencies in government.”

For their part, some Texas Democrats saidthey are grateful for Perry’s service, but his record is nothing to brag about.

“Unfortunately, his legacy will be one of cutting education funding, pushing more testing into our classrooms and promoting issues that divide Texans, rather than bring us together,” said Rep. Mike Villarreal, D-San Antonio.

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Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because if there be one he must approve of the homage of reason more than that of blindfolded fear. Thomas Jefferson in a letter to Peter Carr, August 10, 1787

Dml...I know...Abbott and/or Dewhurst are just as bad or worse. They may be shadoobee but at least they're new shadoobee.
I'm a big believer in term limits. If they don't limit themselves we, as voters, certainly should.

Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because if there be one he must approve of the homage of reason more than that of blindfolded fear. Thomas Jefferson in a letter to Peter Carr, August 10, 1787

Good riddance to Rick "oops" Perry. He leaves us next-to-last in education (percentage of populace with at least a high school education-thank God for Mississippi !), and dead last in access to healthcare (26% of Texans have no healthcare at all). I can only hope that now he will win the GOP nomination for President in 2016 - thereby ensuring a landslide victory for Hillary Clinton.

For myself I'm not a Clinton supporter, I'd much rather Elizabeth Warren ran. Clinton is another establishment faux liberal like Obama. Let's get a **REAL** liberal into office for a change instead of these milquetoast Republican lite politicians.